together, through the thunder and the rain... welcome to bbc news — i'm lewis vaughan jones. our main story this hour: it's been a democratic party convention like no other. on the final night of this virtual event, the party waits forjoe biden to set out his vision for america, as he prepares we will create a beloved to accept the nomination as presidential candidate. community. we will redeem the soul of america. as a nation joe biden, my name is. and asa soul of america. as a nation and as a people, we will get look me over, will ya? he's tried twice before, but never been this close. we look at the journey that got joe biden one step away there. reflecting on the from the presidency. we'll be live injoe biden‘s home—town of wilmington, delaware and in washington. also coming up: remarkable life and incredible the convention will also hear achievements ofjohn lewis from everyday americans — and some of those — there. and the live feed we are including pete buttigieg and michael bloomberg — getting is moving into a who ran in the presidential primaries. musical piece now by the thing john legend, so we will leave

that they're a second and let's go to laura trevelyan. let's reflect a little bit on what we just heard and watched and listened to there, because that theme of racial injustice, something thatjoe biden no doubt will be speaking about. this is a moment in american hello and welcome to the program. the final night of the history. activism has swept democratic party's online america in the wake of the national convention death of george floyd and the isjust beginning. the former us vice—president focus on racial injustice and joe biden is preparing to make despite years of police the most important speech of his long political career, as he accepts the democratic party nomination to challenge brutality and years of black donald trump people dying at the hands of police, there is now a focus on for the white house. theissue police, there is now a focus on the issue in a way there never mr biden says he'll use his has been before and demands for address to outline plans to set america on a new path. police reform. already what we have seen is the end to the he's accused president trump chokehold for example that of leading a failed response killed george floyd and in a to the coronavirus pandemic, and has promised to "build back number of police districts better" if he wins across america. and what democrats are talking about the election in november. doing now in tribute tojohn lewis, someone himself utilised by the police in 1963 when he it has just kicked off in the

last couple of seconds and just marched in summer and spent his to explain a bit about what is life trying to expand voting happening. this is the live feed out of the democratic national convention, it is virtual, it is online. it is a rights —— selma. the idea behind this tribute is to mixture of titles and music and encourage americans to get out there and vote and honour the pre—recorded films, as well as the big set piece speeches we legacy ofjohn lewis. there and vote and honour the legacy of john lewis. that is a huge cause to will be hearing later on. and there will also be musical interludes and performances from popstars too. we will keep dipping in and out of this as it happens right with you for the next couple of hours. let's go to laura in wilmington delaware where joe go to laura in wilmington delaware wherejoe biden will deliver his speech remotely. what is going to happen in next couple of hours? this is the finale of the first ever virtual political convention in american history. it started about 15 minutes ago with the democratic national committee chair really showing us the highlights of the first three

nights. they are pretty pleased with how it is gone so far. the question is, how willjoe biden rally and inspire notjust members of the democratic party but american voters tonight. in his nearly 50 year career in american politics, he admits he is not the most eloquent of speakers but his aides say he's going to make an emotional connection america tonight at this time of grieving. 170,000 people, more than that have died of coronavirus here. millions have lost theirjobs stop unemployment is a 10% and in this moment of reckoning of racial justice in this moment of reckoning of racialjustice in america. joe biden, the unlikely candidate. the man whose campaign looks down and out at the beginning of this year but he has come back, this is his moment, say his aides. they say here's the of destiny. laura, how long do we have to wait until we actually hear from him? we won't hear from joe biden for

about an hour won't hear from joe biden for aboutan hourand won't hear from joe biden for about an hour and three quarters. we will hear from a whole succession of younger democrats. we'll hear from andrew going, he was one of the presidential contenders. he had that idea of giving everyone $1000 a month, universal basic income which was extremely popular in progressive circles. he has earned himself a spot on the speaking roster. we're also to hear from pete the speaking roster. we're also to hearfrom pete buttigieg, the former mayor of south and indiana and also a contender for the recognisable nation. and michael bloomberg and senator cory booker will also be speaking. all of the people who ran and lost. a lot of them are featured tonight. we will also hear from rising are featured tonight. we will also hearfrom rising stars like man—mack lance bottoms, the mayor of atlanta, georgia who had coronavirus herself and she has been an outspoken critic of resident from. the question many people are asking tonight is, we have had an awful lot of criticism of resin from away, something hillary

clinton did last can mention it when she was a candidate. we haven't heard what biden is going to do to win. what is thatis going to do to win. what is that is a question and aims to joe biden is going to outline how he will build back better if elected. thank you, laura. we'll be back to you later on and we will bring that speech live to you when it happens. not too long to wait for that. joining me from washington is katty kay. what do you thinkjoe biden has to do with his speech coming 7 to do with his speech coming f to do with his speech coming up? of ets to speak about joe biden. laura is right, has been a lot of trump — bashing over the course of this convention and maybe that is understandable. the democrats feel this is a particularly acute moments in american politics. they are looking at

trump's approval ratings. he is under 50% consistently during his presidency and joe biden is ahead in the polls partly because of covid, partly because of covid, partly because a lot of people have lost theirjobs during the course of this pandemic. and they feel that trump is an easy target for them. they have got to do more than that. in 2016, hillary clinton ran by effectively saying, you can't possibly vote or donald trump, he is unqualified, he is the quy he is unqualified, he is the guy who on an access hollywood tape says he is going to grab women by the private parts, how can you vote for this guy? and americans did vote for him. she w011 americans did vote for him. she won the popular vote but he wa nted won the popular vote but he wanted presidency. —— won the presidency. and we understand that he is going to spend a big pa rt that he is going to spend a big part of his speech talking aboutjoe biden, his story, his policies, what is going to do for america and persuading people that he can run the country better than it donald trump did. you have had barack 0bama and michelle 0bama and a whole host of democrats attacking donald trump. tonight, we're going to hear

much more aboutjoe biden. how you doing? joe biden is my name. look me over, will you? joe biden‘s political brand is empathy, a firm handshake, a look in the eye, an arm around the shoulder. he showed it in his first run for the white house way back in 1988. but that bid failed amid questions over the very authenticity he held so dear and a speech that stole too closely from neil kinnock, the leader of the british labour party. why is it thatjoe biden is the first in his family ever to go to a university? why am i the first kinnock in 1,000 generations to be able to get to university? this my ancestors who worked in the coal mines in northeast pennsylvania and who'd come up after 12 hours and play football for four hours... the people who would go to work eight hours underground and then come up and play football... hello, everybody. biden dropped out of that race, but even then knew it wouldn't be his last. there will be other opportunities for me to campaign for president.

and 20 years later, he ran again and lost to barack 0bama. but what began as a rivalry turned into a partnership. 0bama said he always wanted biden to be the last person in the room when there was a big decision to make. and after two terms as vice president, there was talk of him running again in 2016, but the death of his son, beau, changed his plans. unfortunately i believe we're out of time, the time necessary to mount a winning campaign for the nomination. if biden‘s political currency is empathy, it comes from knowing grief, which may mean 2020 is finally his moment. 170,000 americans are dead from covid, the whole country is grieving. after all this time, democrats hope that makes joe biden the right man for thejob. do voters think he is the right man for the job? let's bring in democratic strategist mary anne marsh, and republican

strategist ron christie. let's start with you mary. joe biden has given an awful lot of speeches in an awfully long career, how important you think one is? it is the most important speech of his career, no question about it. he has the opportunity to explain to the opportunity to explain to the american people who he is and why he should be the next president, why they should oppose donald trump and how he is going to ring the country out of clothes, out of the pandemic and bring them back to work and school. i think this convention has used video very effectively. the video we saw a little while ago, it shows that joe biden wanted to cure cancer. the moonshot as it was cold, and in this case, what you can say is anyone who wants to cu re you can say is anyone who wants to cure cancer and has pursued that concern me and a pandemic, put people back to work and send kids back to school. the

democrats have a case to make withjoe biden democrats have a case to make with joe biden on democrats have a case to make withjoe biden on two democrats have a case to make with joe biden on two fronts don't they, just in terms of governing because when he was 0bama's vice president, he did work on helping to make sure that ebola did not become a massive pandemic in this country and he did work on the economic recovery. the two big issues facing america at the moment are covid and the economic crisis that has come out of that. the democrats can make the case for biden as a governor on the two big issues facing the country today. that evening to you. certainly, if i we re evening to you. certainly, if i were a democratic strategist, that would be the theme that i would be circling around this evening. the vice president has beenin evening. the vice president has been in politics for 50 years and he can say that i am a steady hand on the teller, i can be anyone who can write the ship if you well. the question is whether people will believe him. ithink is whether people will believe him. i think his greatest strength is also his greatest

liability. he has been on the political scene for 50 years. he doesn't really have significant legislation other than in 1994 crime bill that he can say i really work to do this for the american people. it will be very interesting to see how he tries to brand his experience with his time in office and also moving forward should he become the next president of united states. mary, who do you think you are? joe biden has to be appealing to, is this a case of, and we know obviously he is speaking to democrats because it is their convention, but to voters more widely. is this a case of trying to persuade people who voted for donald trump last time or is it a case of trying to get people out of a who didn't vote last time? he was going to appeal to?|j didn't vote last time? he was going to appeal to? i think it is all of those things that when you look at the polling, he has a decided advantage with voters of colour where he is making surprising gains that is really costing donald trump is with white voters. he has become a little support there, more than hillary clinton had

four years ago. it is larger two largely white voters with couege two largely white voters with college degrees, certainly in the suburbs. i think you will hear a lot and i directed towards those motors. he has to keep the enthusiasm up with the democratic base. he has to keep young voters and voters of colour enthusiastic as well. kamala harris and her speech last night certainly helped. joe biden has to make the case and that is where the surprising inroads and games thatjoe biden is making is with the white voters who helped put donald trump in the white house. i think they will hear much tonight that will makejoe hear much tonight that will make joe biden a hear much tonight that will makejoe biden a very appealing vote for them. mary ann, i just wa nt vote for them. mary ann, i just want to pick up on something wrong was staying there and hadn't even really thought about it before this but the fa ct about it before this but the fact thatjoe about it before this but the fact that joe biden about it before this but the fact thatjoe biden is about it before this but the fact that joe biden is a creature of washington, —— ron, and has been for five decades. it doesn't seem to be playing against him in the way that it did in 2016. in 2016, we heard

a lot about being outside of washington, antiestablishment, when not hearing that this time around. it doesn't seem to be such a negative forjoe biden that he has been in government for a long time. has the political mood in the country shifted to where being a politician of many decades practice is perhaps not seen a such a terrible liability like it was back four years ago.|j think in this case, the american voters are pretty practical and they want somebody who knows how to run government, who can solve problems, who can get things done, who can be a calming force on this country to get it out of this crisis. the fact is, the pandemic and the economy are inextricably linked. joe biden has been able to work on both. he knows how to work on both. he knows how to get thejob to work on both. he knows how to get the job done, where all the buttons and lovers are and all the people up. that is what he's going to do to try and put country back on track. thank you for that. crosstalklj

country back on track. thank you for that. crosstalk i just quickly, can i give you the opposite than of that? in which case, does that meanjoe — donald trump painting himself as an outsider is less of an advantage to him the sum around? 100%. i advantage to him the sum around? 10096. i think his appearance in the last election cycle was i'm going to come to washington, bb disruptor and change the way the town operates. what he always says is he's going to drain the swamp will stop on this particular instance, it is going to be very interesting to see this had on had matchup of the allegedly swamp drainer and the allegedly swamp drainer and the creature of washington who has been in this one for 50 yea rs. has been in this one for 50 years. this is going to make it interesting, dynamic follow us to talk about and what in the coming days and months. thank you very much for that and thank you mary. that set things up thank you mary. that set things up quite nicely. we will be back with both of you little later. let's now go live to milwaukee, wisconsin. khary penebaker is a member of the democratic national committee — he's speaking to us from his car as he's watching

the convention tonight at a drive—in viewing. that is just about the most american thing i have heard in a while. thank you so much for being with us popular thanks for having me on. so, joe biden, big speeches we've been talking about, we've been picking over some of the issues there. ijust picking over some of the issues there. i just want to start with the speech itself. he he is not a soaring orator, he is not known the big speech. do you think this format of not having any crowd there is actually going to help him? having any crowd there is actually going to help him7m may or may not, but they actually find uncle joe to may or may not, but they actually find unclejoe to be an inspiring orator, i've heard joke of a variety of speeches and each time my walk away thinking like, what can they do now? i want to do something. he's inspired me to want to go get up and get to work so why am inspired to hear his speech tonight, he is going to cover a number of policy ideas and ways to move forward so our country

can dig itself out of the deep, dark hole we have been in for the last four years white and on that policy, let's get into that because that is obviously what he wants to set out in different areas, essentially differing, setting up a choice between trump's vision of america and his vision of america. interestingly some commentators have been actually saying we don't actually need a new vision here, it's a stark choice between trump and biden, voters, if they see biden and like him will vote biden, we don't need a new grand vision for the country, what do you make of that? i don't believe in that. i think we do need a grand vision for the country andi grand vision for the country and i believe the ticket of uncle joe biden and and i believe the ticket of unclejoe biden and kamala harris provide that vision. right now seeing what a lack of vision looks like, we are seeing what a lack of leadership looks like. joe biden want the job of being president. he wants to do the work of being president. donald trump has had for years to even try it and he has given up not even making the right effort, as michelle 0bama said, this is

just something he is unable to do and joe biden is going to provide the vision that america needs. we need a vision of what it looks like to be post epidemic here, post pandemic here. we need to know what looks like to have millions of folks get theirjobs back or be able to get into a new kind of economy that provides a new set ofjob skills for them. that's what we need right now and joe biden is the guy that's going to be able to make that happen. if you believe that kind of agenda is important, are you frustrated many people actually saying this is a referendum on the incumbent, which elections very often are but especially in this case, this is a referendum on the performance of donald trump and nothing else. no, not at all. that doesn't frustrate me at all. whatever people's motivation for why they go vote is up to them. as a gun violence survivor myself, i am excited to see we have had a weeks long convention that included gun violence survivors. i'm excited

we're talking about kitchen table issues, issues that keep people up at night. that's what matters to me, so if folks want to think this is just a referendum on donald trump, find. i don't care if you are going to go vote for donald trump because when you fill in that bubble or punch that hole in your ballot it is not going to ask you, were you excited for doing this? is it because you are voting against donald trump forjoe biden, it doesn't matter. the only thing that's going to count is that vote. 0k, before i'll let you go, i do, i'm afraid, have to ask you about this event that you are at. took us through, what's going on where you are? well, i can say that we had hoped, when we got the notification last year that we were going to bring the convention had a milwaukee we were all excited about having 50,000 people come see our big, beautiful city and see our big, beautiful city and see how amazing this is, but when this pandemic happened, we took the advice of the scientific community, the public health officials and did

the right thing to make sure that we could keep people safe. so right now i am here at the milwaukee county zoo, there's about 100 people here in cars, and each car is separated by a parking space, when people get outside the car they have to put a mask on. it is our way to create some kind of human connectedness within the context of the convention, which we were not able to do during the pandemic. folks are beeping their horn when they are chairing because you can't hear what they are talking about, flashing their lights and all things like that. fun! it's like when you go to the drive in with your friends. i'm sure you can hear the horns right now! right on cue! that's perfect. this isjust our way to celebrate. i'm of the opinion that we could complain that the pandemic shut down our in—person convention or we can continue to do the work of the people and elect joe continue to do the work of the people and electjoe biden and kamala harris in november. 0k, great to talk to you, thank you

so much in the very unusual setting talking to me, great to have your thoughts, khary penebaker. as you can see, we are crossing now to that live feed of the democratic national convention, let's take alison. i'm glad to hear it, but boy i think a lot of americans are going to be dealing with that for a long time. i wanted to ask you something, is at lunt are ready for election day? we will be ready, and we are going to do everything that we can to make sure that voting goes smoothly, but we are encouraging people, if you can vote early in your state please do so. early vote during the early vote. perfect, excellent advice. 0ver early vote. perfect, excellent advice. over 40 states now allow some form of early voting. 0k, stay safe, and i'd turnit voting. 0k, stay safe, and i'd turn it over to you. thank you,

julia, and good evening. i am keisha lance bottoms, a mother of four and mayor of atlanta, georgia, cradle of the civil rights movement, and like so many other cities, a place where the struggle for human dignity continues. i'm proud to have grown up in this city, educated and its public schools and blessed to have known our hometown heroes, like doctor joseph lowery, doctor ct vivian and our teacher, our friend, our conscience, our congressmen john lewis. he walked gently amongst us. not as a distant icon but as a god—fearing man. who did what he could to fulfil the as yet unfulfilled promise of america. people often think that they can't make a difference, like our civil rights icons. but every person

in the movement mattered. those who made the sandwiches, swept the church floors, stuffed the envelopes. they too changed america and so can we. the baton has now been passed to each of us. we've cried out for justice. we have gathered in our streets to demand change, and now we must pass on the giftjohn lewis and now we must pass on the gift john lewis sacrificed to give us. we must register and we must vote. 0n give us. we must register and we must vote. on his parting essay written to us, congressmen lewis expressed his pride in the activism that has swe pt pride in the activism that has swept our country and he reminded us that if we fail to exercise our right to vote, we can lose it. there are those who are disgracefully using this pandemic to spread

misinformation and interfere with voting. forcing many, in 2020, two still risk their lives to exercise their sacred right to vote. a rate that has already been paid for with the blood, sweat, tears and lives of so many. so let's stand up for our children, our children's children and for this great democracy that our ancestors worked to build and let's vote, and let's organise to get others to vote with us. you can help make this happen by texting vote to 30330. we know how important it is that we elect real leaders like joe biden and kamala harris. people of honour and integrity, who

hold justice close to their hearts and believe that the lives of my four black children matter. in the words of the poet audrey lord, your salads will not protect you. congressmen lewis would not be silenced and neither will we. we cannot wait for some other time, some other place, some other heroes. we must be the heroes of our generation, because we too are america. our votes can be our voice. there's something deep down me, moving me, that they could no longer be satisfied of going along

with. life was extremely dangerous when we were growing up. john lewis had the respect of everybody, because he was the one who demonstrated the most courage. he'd been beaten and knocked down and get up and go to find another battle. john was focused on ending voter suppression, and it wasn't that he was a great corridor, it was that he was a great spirit. the power of spirituality and humility, and the willingness to suffer rather than to inflict suffering. one of the things thatjohn has taught us is that, yeah, you may have to

sacrifice. but if you are sacrificing for a cause, something bigger than you, bigger than you, and you really believe in it, then you will have people following you. we will march through the south, through the streets of jackson... applause i think he is the singularfigure jackson... applause i think he is the singular figure that is trying to carry out the work of our nonviolent campaigns into the halls of congress. from day one, john lewis was an idle for the members of congress whether they were freshmen or members for a long time because he brought with him a kind of heft, of waiting is, of purpose. i got arrested a few times in the 605. 40 times. and

5ince times in the 605. 40 times. and since i've been in congress, another five times. someone who has navigated thorny issues of policy, not by castigating alone but by also encouraging people to be better than they think they can be. today we are considering a housing manager that not only protect5 our nation minorities but it protect5 nation minorities but it protects the needs of those with disabilities and families with disabilities and families with children. how long do we have to wait before we decide to ban a55ault weapons? we have another opportunity... i have on my marching 5hoe5. i'm fired i on my marching 5hoe5. i'm fired d on my marching 5hoe5. i'm fired up! and all of these decades later while he and others of his generation achieve much, we are still fighting against

police brutality and fighting for our voting rights. and so we best honour him by continuing to fight the good fight that he fought, by staying in good trouble. #